StMaryNow.com | Franklin Banner-Tribune & Morgan City Daily-Review | St. Mary Parish, La. - MLBhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/mlb
enThree SLU players sign MLB contractshttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports-college-sports/three-slu-players-sign-mlb-contracts
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Baseball%20in%20glove%20V.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Baseball%20in%20glove%20V.jpg" width="350" height="525" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>HAMMOND — All three members of the Southeastern Louisiana baseball program selected in the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft have signed professional contracts, head coach Matt Riser announced Tuesday.<br />
Jake Johnson, Kyle Keller and Tate Scioneaux helped lead the Lions to a record-setting season in 2015, according to the university’s news release. Southeastern, which finished 42-17 overall and 25-5 in the Southland Conference, set the school record for overall wins and established a new Southland record for conference wins on the way to claiming a regular-season championship.<br />
“We tell them all year, and throughout their career, be selfless,” Riser said. “When the opportunities came, those guys exemplified that over their careers and it earned them a chance to make a decision for themselves. We’re proud of all three young men. They worked extremely hard for this opportunity, and to see them further their careers in professional baseball, we couldn’t be more excited for them.”<br />
Johnson was drafted in the 16th round by the Cincinnati Reds (475 overall). First of the three to sign, he was assigned to the Billings (Montana) Mustangs of the Rookie-level Pioneer League where he is a teammate of former Lion utility player Tanner Rainey.<br />
The right-hander from Salina, Oklahoma, compiled a 10-2 record and 3.24 ERA in 94.1 innings pitched, fanning 89 batters for the Lions. Johnson tied for the conference lead in victories and was sixth in strikeouts. He is the 10th pitcher in school history to earn double-digit wins in a single season, duplicating the feat accomplished last season by Andro Èutura.<br />
Keller was drafted in the 18th round by the Miami Marlins (536 overall). He was originally assigned to the Batavia (N.Y.) Muckdogs of the Single-A short season New York-Penn League, but after three appearances was promoted to the Greensboro (North Carolina) Grasshoppers of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Keller has fanned 17 batters over the first 11.2 innings of his pro career.<br />
The right-hander from New Orleans appeared in 15 games for the Lions this season picking up a pair of wins and a pair of saves. He turned in a 2.75 ERA in 36 innings of work, primarily out of the bullpen, fanning 40 batters and limiting opponents to a .217 batting average.<br />
Scioneaux was selected in the 39th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates (1,177 overall). After signing just prior to the July 17 deadline, he has been assigned to the West Virginia (Morgantown) Black Bears of the Single-A short season New York-Penn League.<br />
Scioneaux tossed three-consecutive shutouts to close out the regular season, eventually stretching his streak to a Lion-record 36.1 scoreless innings in a row. The right-hander from Reserve, Louisiana, leaves the program as Southeastern’s all-time leader in innings pitched (317.1). He also compiled the third-most wins in school history (23) and is second all-time in strikeouts (260).<br />
The three join former Lions Steve Clevenger (2005), Wade Miley (2006-08), Brock Hebert (2010-12), Èutura (2012-14) and Andrew Godbold (2014) as professional baseball players.<br />
Miley, who was traded to the Boston Red Sox during the offseason after four seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, has compiled an 8-8 win-loss record and a 4.49 ERA in his first season in the American League. His 46 career wins are the most by a former Lion at the Major League level.<br />
Clevenger, who enjoyed a four-game stint with the Baltimore Orioles earlier this season, is hitting .328 with three home runs and 23 RBIs for the Triple-A Norfolk (Virginia) Tides.<br />
Hebert, currently on a rehab assignment with the Seattle Mariners’ Rookie-level Arizona League squad, just returned to action after a lengthy stint on the disabled list. Earlier this season he hit .297 with a pair of home runs and 12 RBIs in a 12-game stint with the Bakersfield (California) Blaze of the Single-A California League.<br />
Èutura, who is seeing his first professional action this season after signing with the Minnesota Twins in 2014, has worked to a 1-1 won-loss record and a 1.23 ERA through four starts for the Elizabethton (Tennessee) Twins of the Rookie-level Appalachian League. He has fanned 19 batters over the first 22 innings of his career, scattering 12 hits and four walks.<br />
Godbold, who played 21 games with the Ogden Raptors in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2014 after signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is currently playing for the Florence (Kentucky) Freedom of the independent Frontier League.<br />
“This is why we want them to be able to make the decision of whether or not it is time to move on to the professional level,” Riser said. “If they get that opportunity, and we do it the right way, then it opens up more doors for guys in our program. Year in and year out, our guys are not only winning championships and doing what they’re supposed to in the classroom, but they get a chance to further their career in professional baseball.”</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/college-sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>College Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/southeastern-louisiana-university" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Southeastern Louisiana University</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/slu" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>SLU</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/baseball" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>baseball</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/signee" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>signee</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/professional" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>professional</span></a></div></div></div>Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:40:39 +0000StMaryNow.com29947 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports-college-sports/three-slu-players-sign-mlb-contracts#commentsNola impressive in debut despite 1-0 loss to Rayshttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/nola-impressive-debut-despite-1-0-loss-rays
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_201.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_201.jpg" width="350" height="367" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aaron Nola, a former LSU standout, did almost everything right in his major league debut. Surprisingly, the opposing pitcher gave him trouble.<br />
Nola gave up a home run to Rays starter Nathan Karns for what turned out to be the lone run in Tampa Bay’s 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.<br />
Nola (0-1) was impressive, surrendering one run and five hits with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings, but the Phillies managed just four hits while ending their four-game winning streak.<br />
“He was poised, had good mound presence and didn’t look scared,” Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. “Just couldn’t muster any offense for him. He did everything right.”<br />
The 22-year-old right-hander was the seventh overall selection by the Phillies in the 2014 draft, making him the first Philadelphia player since Pat Combs in 1989 to appear in the big leagues a year after being drafted.<br />
There was a rare buzz among the 28,703 fans at Citizens Bank Park that has been absent for most of this rebuilding season. Since announcing on Friday that Nola was being called up, the Phillies sold 8,500 tickets — including 4,000 on Tuesday alone. Fans cheered as soon as Nola emerged from the dugout during warmups, gave him a standing ovation when his name was announced and unleashed some chants of “AA-RON! NO-LA!” during the contest.<br />
“It was pretty awesome to be out there, feel the energy of the fans and pitch at this level,” Nola said. “It was amazing.”<br />
And he didn’t disappoint those in attendance. He was also 1-for-2 at the plate.<br />
Featuring a fastball that reached as high as 94 mph, along with an 84 mph changeup and curveball, Nola breezed through the first two innings looking like a poised veteran.<br />
Then, he grooved a fastball to Karns leading off the third, and the Rays pitcher drove it into the seats in left field for an unlikely homer.<br />
It was just the sixth time in baseball history that an American League pitcher homered in a 1-0 game, the last coming on April 18, 1962, when Milt Pappas did it for Baltimore in a win over the Yankees.<br />
“It was definitely a memory I won’t ever forget,” said Karns, who said his last homer came in 2006 while in high school. “I just swung away.”<br />
The homer was the first hit by a Rays pitcher this season, snapping an 0-for-14 skid, and their first in the last 23 at-bats dating to last July 23 when Alex Cobb doubled. It also was the first homer for Karns, who had been 0 for 5 in his career at the plate, and just the second by a Tampa Bay pitcher in club history.<br />
“He put a great swing on it,” Nola said. “I was hoping it didn’t go out. Unfortunately, it did. I focused on the next hitter and tried to bounce back.”<br />
Besides Karns, only two other batters reached second base.<br />
“He knows how to pitch,” Mackanin said.<br />
The Phillies had their own trouble with Karns and five relievers. The quintet allowed one hit in four scoreless innings, capped by Brad Boxberger’s 1-2-3 ninth that gave him 24 saves.<br />
Karns (5-5) allowed three hits, struck out four and walked two, marking the 14th game where the right-hander has allowed two earned runs or less.<br />
Philadelphia had runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh, but Jake McGee struck out pinch-hitter Jeff Francoeur with a 99 mph fastball for the final out.<br />
BASERUNNING BLUNDERS<br />
The Phillies hurt themselves with two baserunning gaffes. Cody Asche made the first out at third base in the second inning when trying to advance on Domonic Brown’s single. And Odubel Herrera failed to run out a ground ball in the fifth, resulting in an inning-ending, 3-6-3 double play. Nola was forced out at second on the play after singling to center for his first career hit.<br />
“He kind of quit running,” Mackanin said. “That’s not the way you play.”<br />
SLUMPING RAYS<br />
Evan Longoria and James Loney both went 0 for 4 to extend their slumps. Longoria is 1 for his last 23 while Loney is 3 for 30.<br />
TRAINER’S ROOM<br />
Rays: RF Steven Souza Jr. was activated from the DL. He had been out since July 6 with a right finger laceration. OF Grady Sizemore was sent to Triple-A Durham to make room for Souza, who went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts.<br />
Phillies: 3B Maikel Franco was held out of the lineup after aggravating his right elbow with a throw to first on Monday night. RHP Jerome Williams (hamstring) was activated from the DL and will start Friday against the Cubs in Chicago.<br />
UP NEXT<br />
The teams close the three-game series on Wednesday afternoon with Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (5-5, 2.30 ERA) facing Phillies LHP Adam Morgan (1-2, 3.91). Tampa Bay has won 11 straight games against left-handed starters.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/aaron-nola" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Aaron Nola</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nola" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Nola</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/lsu" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>LSU</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/philadelpia-phillies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Philadelpia Phillies</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/phillies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Phillies</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/baseball" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>baseball</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/debut" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>debut</span></a></div></div></div>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 18:02:35 +0000StMaryNow.com29905 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/nola-impressive-debut-despite-1-0-loss-rays#commentsRoyals edge Tigers after long delay http://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/royals-edge-tigers-after-long-delay
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_129.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_129.jpg" width="350" height="367" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">DETROIT (AP) — </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The Detroit hitters kept squaring around to bunt, and Greg Holland kept throwing pitches nowhere near his intended target.<br />
Then the Tigers finally put a ball in play, and Holland got exactly what he needed.<br />
Hernan Perez — batting only because Miguel Cabrera had been removed for a pinch-runner the previous inning — grounded into a crucial double play in the 10th, and Holland escaped a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam to close out Kansas City’s 2-1 victory over the Tigers early Monday. The game was delayed 103 minutes by rain in the middle of the ninth.<br />
“I just didn’t have any command of my pitches, so I was really working hard out there,” Holland said.<br />
Omar Infante’s sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th put the Royals ahead, but Holland allowed a single and two walks to start the bottom half. Anthony Gose and Ian Kinsler both squared around to bunt but ended up taking walks as Holland struggled.<br />
Perez then bounced into a 5-2-3 double play, but another walk to Victor Martinez loaded the bases again.<br />
Holland then struck out Yoenis Cespedes for his sixth save in six chances.<br />
Jason Frasor (1-0) got the win, working out of a bases-loaded jam of his own in the ninth.<br />
Angel Nesbitt (0-1) took the loss.<br />
The game was delayed after the top of the ninth, with the score tied at 1 and Luke Hochevar ready to take the mound for the Royals. The tarp was put on the field, then removed, then put on again. Hochevar never ended up pitching.<br />
“I thought the rain was conspiring to beat us,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “We had Luke up, and then he was done before he ever throws a pitch, and then Frasor is hot because they have the tarp off, and it starts raining again so we almost lost him.”<br />
The Tigers nearly won it in the ninth. Frasor allowed a leadoff walk to Cabrera and a single by Martinez, but he eventually got James McCann to fly out with the bases loaded to end the inning.<br />
Nesbitt began the 10th with a hit batter, and there was some question about whether the pitch actually grazed Alex Gordon’s jersey.<br />
“Certain angles it may look like it missed him, but you can clearly see it when it slows down: It hits the jersey and it snaps back to the left, after being hit,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “So there was no phantom hit by pitch.”<br />
Nesbitt then threw a wild pitch, and after Gordon advanced to third on a groundout, Infante’s flyball made it 2-1.<br />
The Royals lead Detroit by 1 1/2 games atop the AL Central.<br />
The Royals took a 1-0 lead when Kendrys Morales and Gordon led off the second with consecutive doubles. Detroit tied it in the third thanks to an ill-advised play by Infante, the second baseman.<br />
Gose tried to bunt his way on with two outs, and Infante tried to flip the ball acrobatically behind his back to first. It sailed wildly, and Gose ended up on second — the play was scored an infield single and an error.<br />
After moving into scoring position, Gose was able to come home on Kinsler’s single.<br />
SOLID<br />
Kansas City starter Chris Young allowed an unearned run and three hits in six innings, while Shane Greene of the Tigers allowed a run and four hits in eight innings.<br />
Young has allowed opponents to hit only .091 this season.<br />
TRAINER’S ROOM<br />
Royals: Holland also pitched Saturday. This was the first time he appeared in back-to-back games since returning from a pectoral injury.<br />
Tigers: Detroit is pushing LHP David Price (hamstring) back to Saturday for his next start. ... Tigers RHP Justin Verlander (triceps) threw off flat ground before the game. ... Detroit SS Jose Iglesias (groin) was out of the lineup.<br />
UP NEXT<br />
The Tigers are off Monday. The Royals send LHP Danny Duffy (2-1) to the mound against RHP Colby Lewis (2-2) of the Rangers in the opener of a four-game series at Texas.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By NOAH TRISTER, AP Baseball Writer</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/kansas-city-royals" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Kansas City Royals</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/detroit-tigers" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Detroit Tigers</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div></div></div>Mon, 11 May 2015 19:49:23 +0000Geoffrey Stoute28503 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/royals-edge-tigers-after-long-delay#commentsMayweather-Pacquiao top unbelievable sports lineup Saturdayhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/mayweather-pacquiao-top-unbelievable-sports-lineup-saturday
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/boxing%20gloves.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/boxing%20gloves.jpg" width="350" height="393" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The most-anticipated fight of all time. The best-known horse race. The premier baseball rivalry. The NFL draft.<br />
And those are just the highlights.<br />
Super Saturday — perhaps a day unlike any other in the history of sport — awaits.<br />
Stock the refrigerator, replace the remote batteries, get the weekend errands done early, invite your friends, fire up that grill and if you’re very fortunate, confirm those flights. For the sports consumer, an amazing number of options will be available.<br />
From the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight that could generate $400 million and topple every known record in boxing history, to the 141st edition of the Kentucky Derby, to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox colliding for the 2,142nd time to the NFL draft’s finishing rounds and so much more, it’s a sports enthusiast’s dream.<br />
The fight in Las Vegas is overshadowing all, with good reason.<br />
“I don’t plan on being there,” said Masters champion Jordan Spieth, “but I may be.”<br />
Here’s the translation. Spieth is playing in the Match Play Championship at San Francisco — another really big event that won’t generate much of a blip this weekend because of everything else happening in the sports world. If he’s ousted before Saturday, his consolation prize is a trip to Vegas.<br />
“There are tickets,” Spieth said.<br />
Tickets, yes — ones he doesn’t want to use, but at least he has them. Most people didn’t have a chance at getting into the MGM Grand this weekend, and some deep-pocketed folks have spent more than $250,000 for a pair of prime seats.<br />
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer.<br />
He meant the spectacle surrounding the fight.<br />
He could have just as easily been talking about the worldwide hubbub of what awaits on Super Saturday.<br />
“It’s time to fight now ... the biggest fight in boxing history,” Mayweather said.<br />
THE FIGHT<br />
The pay-per-view in the U.S. for Mayweather-Pacquiao will cost around $100 to watch in your home, although at least one company is offering to comp the purchase for new subscribers to their service.<br />
There are plenty of other options.<br />
Pacquiao fans will be paying $34 apiece for a seat at Skinny Mike’s Sports Bar in Manila — on Sunday morning there, remember.<br />
Front-row seats to watch from a casino are online for about $200, though that casino is actually in Hammond, Indiana, and not Las Vegas.<br />
And in New York, you and 10 of your friends can watch at a club for $3,000, a steep price but one that includes six bottles of champagne, three bottles of liquor and platters of nachos, sliders, chicken fingers and pizza.<br />
THE DERBY<br />
A field of 20 will run for the roses at Churchill Downs, and while the Kentucky Derby might not be the best race of the year, it is certainly the most anticipated, unless a Triple Crown hopeful emerges.<br />
About $125 million was bet on the Derby last year, more than 160,000 fans are expected at Churchill and it’s not implausible to think — based on recent years — that 15 million or so will watch on television in the U.S. alone.<br />
“It has become such an event,” Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher said.<br />
And to think, it’s just part of the show on Saturday.<br />
MORE CHOICES<br />
NASCAR has qualifying at Talladega on Saturday, no small event on its schedule either. There’s an LPGA tournament, plus Detroit and Kansas City are squaring off in a matchup of two of baseball’s best teams early this season.<br />
Yes, those will appeal to auto racing, golf and baseball fans.<br />
But to those who love the magnitude of over-the-top events, they won’t compare to the big show in Vegas.<br />
“They may not follow sports much but they like the big events,” said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager for Showtime Sports. “And this is a big event.”<br />
AROUND THE WORLD<br />
The Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will be broadcast in at least 52 countries, and who knows how many will be able to access it online globally.<br />
But there’s some other big events around the globe Saturday as well, although again, they’ll all likely pale in comparison.<br />
The European Rugby Champions Cup Final between a pair of French clubs will be going on, Real Madrid will face Sevilla in a potentially very big Spanish soccer match, and the women’s singles and men’s doubles world champions in table tennis will be crowned in China.<br />
THE PLAYOFFS<br />
LeBron James will have Saturday off — he and the Cleveland Cavaliers won’t be playing again until Monday, so you know he’ll likely be watching this fight someplace.<br />
The NHL playoffs will be going on, with Washington and the New York Rangers playing Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Depending on what happens in other games, the NBA might have nothing scheduled that day, which would only give fans and players more time to enjoy everything else.<br />
There’s also a chance the NBA could see one or two Game 7s to end the first round.<br />
THE NFL DRAFT<br />
Finally, there’s the big event of the NFL offseason — the draft, with the final four rounds coming on Saturday. It starts Thursday night, then resumes with rounds two and three on Friday.<br />
This weekend the mighty NFL feels like an appetizer.<br />
The last pick in the draft gets the title of “Mr. Irrelevant.”<br />
Given all going on in the sports world on Saturday, that may never be more appropriate.<br />
--By TIM REYNOLDS<br />
AP Sports Writer</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/super-saturday" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Super Saturday</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mayweather" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Mayweather</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/pacquiao" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Pacquiao</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/fight" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>fight</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/boxing" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>boxing</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/kentucky-derby" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Kentucky Derby</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nfl-draft" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>NFL draft</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nba" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>NBA</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div></div></div>Thu, 30 Apr 2015 19:27:14 +0000StMaryNow.com28296 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/mayweather-pacquiao-top-unbelievable-sports-lineup-saturday#commentsBeltre finds hop to get back in batter's boxhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/beltre-finds-hop-get-back-batters-box
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_115.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_115.jpg" width="350" height="367" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>When it comes to the baseball’s new speed-up rules, Adrian Beltre is ready to hop to it. He’s really doing it.<br />
Beltre already had to be reminded twice in the season’s initial days to stay in the batter’s box, including on the Texas third baseman’s 36th birthday Tuesday. And when given a prompt by the home plate umpire, he bounded back in.<br />
“I’m old. I can’t think, I can’t process all that stuff sometimes,” Beltre joked before his Texas Rangers played Oakland on Wednesday night. “You go to home plate with your mindset of your approach, what you’re doing, you’re not thinking about staying in the box. I’m not a guy who goes far away but I like to get out and look at my coach. It’s going to take some time to get used to. I don’t mind it, but I just forget.”<br />
Umpire Bill Miller mentioned it in Monday’s opener when Beltre stepped out and quickly jumped back into the box upon realizing it. After the second pitch of his first at-bat was in the dirt against Sonny Gray, he took four steps out and tapped his bat on each foot feet before coming back.<br />
On Tuesday night, plate umpire Doug Eddings warned him again. Beltre made an immediate, athletic hop right back into the box during the first inning of a 3-1 win.<br />
“I think he caught himself a couple times,” Eddings said at the Oakland Coliseum before working Wednesday’s game. “It’s new to everybody, and that’s what I said, ‘It’s new to everybody.’ Everybody’s making an effort, umpires and players. Sometimes I forget to even notice that because it’s something that we haven’t ever done. Years and years of playing baseball, they’re used to a routine, same thing with us. It’s a joint effort.”<br />
Beltre said he is accustomed to stepping out and looking to third base coach Tony Beasley for his sign, but quickly realized his errors. Eddings and Miller each said Wednesday they know it will be a learning process for both players and umpires adjusting to new pace of game rules. One of those is keeping one foot in the batter’s box, with some exceptions.<br />
Slugger Prince Fielder is figuring it out himself, and got a chuckle out of watching Beltre jump and jive.<br />
“I saw. That was hilarious,” Fielder said. “It’s on everyone’s mind. Once they say it, you don’t want the umpires to think you’re not going by the rules, like, ‘My bad.’ The last thing you’re thinking about is your foot.”<br />
Also in the opener, Beltre took three steps out of the box in the seventh inning.<br />
“Guys are just used to stepping out,” Miller said. “He kind of made it lighthearted by making a scene. Before I could even say anything, he looked at me and made eye contact and jumped back in the box.”<br />
MLB spokesman Michael Teevan said Wednesday that about 10 letters had been sent since the season began warning players, who could be subject to fines beginning May 1. Names weren’t released, though Beltre conceivably could be among those reminded they are violating the rules.<br />
“I’m sure around the league veteran guys are going to have to be reminded a lot,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said. “It’s just what they’ve been doing for a long time, their entire careers, and it’s going to be an adjustment period for them. But how great it is it that he does it with a little bit of energy and a smile on his face? It didn’t seem to affect him any. I’m sure he’ll find his rhythm with it, the rest of the guys will find their rhythm with it also. They know that it’s part of the game and it’s here to stay.”</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Baseball Writer</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/adrian-beltre" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Adrian Beltre</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/batters-box" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>batter&#039;s box</span></a></div></div></div>Thu, 09 Apr 2015 20:22:16 +0000Geoffrey Stoute27893 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/beltre-finds-hop-get-back-batters-box#commentsMLB ticket prices average up 3.3 percenthttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/mlb-ticket-prices-average-33-percent
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_112.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_112.jpg" width="350" height="367" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">CHICAGO (AP) — </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Major League Baseball's average ticket price rose 3.3 percent this season to $28.94, the steepest increase in six years.<br />
Team Marketing Report said in its annual survey Monday the average is up 4.4 percent since 2013 after remaining flat in 2012.<br />
World Series champion Boston had the highest average at $52.34 after leaving prices the same. The New York Yankees also left their average unchanged at $51.55 after missing the playoffs for the second straight season.<br />
The Chicago Cubs, who renovated Wrigley Field and their roster, raised their average for the first time since 2010, a 1.5 percent increase to $44.81. The Cubs are coming off a last-place finish and fifth straight losing season.<br />
The Dodgers' average rose 10.9 percent to $28.61 as Los Angeles hiked its opening-day payroll to a record $270 million, boosting the team's two-year increase to 27.9 percent.<br />
After reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1985, winning the AL pennant and coming within one win of a World Series title, the Kansas City Royals had the largest increase for the second straight year, a 20.3 percent rise to $29.76. Following consecutive winning seasons, the Royals have increased their average 50 percent.<br />
World Series champion San Francisco increased its average 6.8 percent to $33.78.<br />
The average NFL ticket price was $84.43 last season, according to the survey. The NBA average is $53.98 this season and the NHL average is $62.18.<br />
TMR's Fan Cost Index, which includes four average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking and two adult-size caps, rose 2.5 percent to $211.68. The Red Sox were the high team at $350.86 and Arizona the low at $126.89. Programs were removed from the formula this year, and last year's fan index was retroactively adjusted.<br />
The average premium ticket is $96.94. The Yankees have the highest average at $305.39 and San Diego the lowest at $41.18.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ticket-prices" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>ticket prices</span></a></div></div></div>Mon, 06 Apr 2015 21:23:27 +0000Geoffrey Stoute27809 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/mlb-ticket-prices-average-33-percent#commentsA-Rod back early with Yanks, still avoids PED specifics http://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/rod-back-early-yanks-still-avoids-ped-specifics
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_99.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_99.jpg" width="350" height="367" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Alex Rodriguez reported to the New York Yankees three days ahead of schedule. He spoke for 8 1/2 minutes about his season-long drug suspension.<br />
But on his first day back with the team since September 2013, he never said why he resumed the use of performance-enhancing drugs, never explained what he did and avoided getting into any specifics.<br />
“I cringe when I look at some of things I did,” Rodriguez said, surrounded by about 40 reporters on the sidewalk outside the Yankees minor league complex. “No mistake that I made has any good answer, no justification. It’s unexplainable, and that’s on me. I’ve dug a big hole for myself. Paid a price.”<br />
New York asked him to hold a pre-spring training news conference at Yankee Stadium, but Rodriguez declined. The Yankees told them they didn’t want him holding one at Steinbrenner Field, where they felt it would be a distraction.<br />
So Rodriguez improvised.<br />
Wearing a green University of Miami sweatsuit, he arrived at Steinbrenner Field on Monday morning for his physical, three days before the first workout for Yankees’ position players. Shortly before 1 p.m., he showed up at the minor league complex, a little less than 1 mile away, carrying what appeared to be a tan bat box.<br />
After changing into Yankees’ shorts, a T-shirt and a spring training cap, Rodriguez worked out for about an hour. He hit six home runs in 71 swings and took grounders at shortstop.<br />
Yankees manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman say Chase Headley will be their starting third baseman and Rodriguez will compete for at-bats at designated hitter.<br />
Rodriguez called Headley an “excellent addition” to the team. Rodriguez did not take grounders at first base.<br />
“I’m willing to try,” he said. “When Joe needs me, I’m going to be ready. I’m here early, trying to get a jump-start. It’s a process. It’s going to take time.”<br />
Suspended for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract, Rodriguez apologized to team officials during a meeting at Yankee Stadium on Feb. 10 and to fans in a statement last week. His handwritten statement to fans offered no details.<br />
“I’m fortunate for a lot of people, especially the commissioner’s office, the players’ union, the Yankees to give me an opportunity to play the game that I love,” he said.<br />
Asked whether he thought the Yankees’ organization was on his side, Rodriguez said he didn’t know.<br />
“You’d have to ask them,” he responded. “I created a big headache for a lot of people. So, I don’t blame whoever is mad at me.”<br />
When asked if at any point he would address specifics regarding his mistakes, Rodriguez answered: “Right now I’m just focused on making this team. Obviously, it was a rough year.”<br />
Before speaking with reporters, Rodriguez spent 10 minutes signing autographs for a group of around 50 fans, who all cheered him.<br />
Rodriguez stopped his SUV near the complex entrance, got out and walked toward the fans, who surged forward and semi-surrounded him. He also posed for photos with many of them, interacting with questions like “Where are you from?”<br />
When he was done, Rodriguez turned to the group of reporters and said, “Let’s keep this nice and short.”<br />
He said he has no plans to address Yankees teammates as a group.<br />
“I have a lot of good relationships in there,” Rodriguez said. “Stayed in touch with a lot of them. I feel welcomed back.”<br />
Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, has not played a full season since 2007 because the suspension, operations on both hips and other injuries.<br />
“I don’t know. ... We’ll see,” Rodriguez said about his body holding up. “If I stay healthy, I can do good things.”<br />
He admitted in 2009 that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while with Texas. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig suspended Rodriguez for 211 games in August 2013, citing conduct from 2010-12 uncovered during MLB’s investigation of the Biogenesis of America clinic, which was based in Coral Gables, Florida, not far from Rodriguez’s home.<br />
Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz reduced the penalty to the 2014 season, finding “clear and convincing evidence” Rodriguez used three banned substances and twice tried to obstruct baseball’s drug investigation. The suspension cost Rodriguez just over $22 million of his $25 million salary last year.<br />
Rodriguez said it’s not for him to say if the penalty was fair.<br />
“There’s a system in place,” Rodriguez said. “I paid my penalty. I’m moving on.”<br />
Rodriguez also sued Major League Baseball, the players’ association and the Yankees’ team physician, then dropped the cases.<br />
He is owed $61 million in the final three seasons of his $275 million, 10-year contract. A marketing agreement signed at the time of his contract provides for five $6 million bonuses he could earn for historic achievements; the Yankees told him they don’t plan to pay those.<br />
When asked what he would have done differently the past two years, Rodriguez responded by saying: “I don’t have time for that.”</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By MARK DIDTLER, Associated Press</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/alex-rodriguez" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Alex Rodriguez</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/new-york-yankees" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>New York Yankees</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ped" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>PED</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div></div></div>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:59:41 +0000Geoffrey Stoute26999 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/rod-back-early-yanks-still-avoids-ped-specifics#commentsMLB makes small pace-of-game changeshttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/mlb-makes-small-pace-game-changes
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_98.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_98.jpg" width="350" height="367" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">NEW YORK (AP) — </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Major League Baseball is making some changes designed to speed games but won’t implement more radical proposals this year.<br />
The league and the players’ union announced an agreement Friday to enforce the rule requiring a hitter to keep at least one foot in the batter’s box in most cases. MLB also will post stadium clocks timing pitching changes and between-inning breaks.<br />
MLB did not institute many of the ideas experimented with during the Arizona Fall League, such as a 20-second clock between pitches, a limitation of pitcher’s mound conferences involving catchers and managers, and no-pitch intentional walks. The pitch clock will be used in the minor leagues at Double-A and Triple-A.<br />
Penalties for violating the new rules start May 1 and will involve only fines, and MLB said it is likely to announce only fines involving repeat flagrant violators.<br />
In the AFL, strikes and balls were called as penalties.<br />
“I think it’s something that’s going to take some time,” San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris said. “You’ve got guys playing for seven, eight years that have always stepped out of the box and taken a practice swing.”<br />
MLB cannot make unilateral changes to playing rules without the union’s consent unless it gives one year prior notice, so an agreement was necessary for any 2015 alterations. The World Umpires Association also approved.<br />
“The players believe that enforcing the rules that currently exist regarding between-inning breaks and plate appearances is the best way to address the issue of pace of play,” union head Tony Clark said in a statement. “We’re confident that today’s announcements will have a positive impact on the pace of the game without jeopardizing the integrity of the competition.”<br />
The average time of nine-inning games was a record 3 hours, 2 minutes last year, up from 2:33 in 1981.<br />
“These changes represent a step forward in our efforts to streamline the pace of play,” said Rob Manfred, who took over from Bud Selig as commissioner last month. “The most fundamental starting point for improving the pace of the average game involves getting into and out of breaks seamlessly.”<br />
The rule requiring hitter’s keep a foot in the box contains many exceptions, including swinging at a pitch, getting forced out by a pitch, calling time, faking a bunt and wild pitches and passed balls.<br />
The clocks will be installed on or near outfield scoreboards and on facades behind home plate, near most press boxes. Inning breaks will be counted down from 2:25 for locally televised games and 2:45 for nationally televised games. Pitchers must throw their last warmup pitches before 30 seconds remaining, with exceptions if the pitcher or catcher is on base when the previous half-inning ends.<br />
MLB will make a donation to the union’s charitable foundation based on compliance with the new rules.<br />
The sides also announced changes for the second season of expanded video review by umpires.<br />
Managers no longer will have to leave their dugouts to call for replays, unless the play in question ends an inning and the defensive team must be kept on the field. In addition, plays involving whether a runner left a base early or touched a base on a tag-up play will be subject to video review for the first time.<br />
Managers also will retain the challenge for every overturned call, not just the first, and managers will have two challenges during tiebreaker and postseason games and the All-Star Game. A manager will be required to use a challenge to review violations of the home-plate collision rule, but the crew chief may call for a review from the seventh inning on if a manager is out of challenges.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/changes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>changes</span></a></div></div></div>Fri, 20 Feb 2015 18:44:02 +0000Geoffrey Stoute26925 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/mlb-makes-small-pace-game-changes#commentsPitchers, catchers report to spring traininghttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/pitchers-catchers-report-spring-training
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_93.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_93.jpg" width="350" height="367" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Washington’s star-studded rotation reports to Florida. Matt Harvey continues his comeback with the New York Mets. Joe Maddon takes over the Chicago Cubs, and Russell Martin gets a closer look at Toronto’s pitching staff.<br />
While much of the Northeast and Midwest navigates bitter cold and piles of snow, spring training begins in earnest this week when pitchers and catchers file into camps in Florida and Arizona. World Champion San Francisco is one of four National League teams slated to begin on Thursday, and most of the majors’ pitchers and backstops will be in place by this weekend.<br />
Following several massive free-agent deals and blockbuster trades, there are plenty of compelling story lines heading into baseball’s first spring training since Rob Manfred took over as commissioner in January.<br />
The Nationals strengthened their already solid rotation by signing free agent Max Scherzer to a $210 million, seven-year contract. Now the pressure is on Scherzer to deliver on that big deal and help the reigning NL East champions advance deep into the playoffs for the first time since the franchise moved to Washington.<br />
While Scherzer will attract plenty of attention this spring, it looks as if Tanner Roark will have to adjust to a bullpen role after he had a breakout season a year ago, winning 15 games with a sparking 2.85 ERA. The right-hander is a nice insurance policy for manager Matt Williams should any of the starters get hurt.<br />
Harvey missed all of last season for his recovery from elbow ligament-replacement surgery, and got an early start on spring training by reporting to New York’s facility about two weeks before the first scheduled workout. He is hoping to be ready for opening day, but the Mets could decide on a slow and steady approach for the ace right-hander.<br />
It’s a brand new day for the Cubs when they report to Arizona after a banner offseason that included the addition of Maddon, who had a 754-705 record during his successful nine-year run with Tampa Bay.<br />
Cubs President Theo Epstein pounced on the quirky skipper after he opted out of his contract with the Rays, dumping Rick Renteria after just one season. Epstein is counting on Maddon to ease the transition of the organization’s impressive stable of prospects to the rigors of the majors.<br />
The Cubs were one of baseball’s most active teams over the winter. Same goes for Toronto, which is seeking its first playoff appearance since it won the World Series in 1993.<br />
Martin was one of the majors’ most prized free agents over the winter, and he opted for an $82 million, five-year contract with the Blue Jays. The three-time All-Star, who was born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, hit .290 with 11 home runs and 67 RBIs with Pittsburgh last season, helping the Pirates to a second straight playoff berth.<br />
Here are a few more things to watch heading into spring training:</p>
<p>HERE COME THE CHAMPS<br />
The last team to win consecutive World Series was the New York Yankees from 1998-2000. The next team to take a crack that feat is San Francisco, which beat Kansas City in seven games for the title last fall.<br />
The good news for the Giants is they have plenty of experience when it comes to defending the title, having also won the World Series in 2010 and 2012. But they failed to make the playoffs following each of their previous two championships, slipping to a 76-86 record in 2013.<br />
One spot to watch this spring is third base, where Casey McGehee replaces Pablo Sandoval after the slugger signed a $95 million, five-year deal with Boston over the winter. Madison Bumgarner returns after throwing a whopping 270 innings last year, and Matt Cain is back after he had surgery in August to remove bone chips from his right elbow.</p>
<p>MANY HAPPY RETURNS<br />
The comeback capital of the majors is New York, which has Harvey hoping to return to form, and three intriguing situations with the Yankees. Left-hander CC Sabathia is back after he missed much of last season with a degenerative cartilage problem in his right knee, and Masahiro Tanaka is looking for a healthy second season after he was limited to 20 mostly impressive starts last year due to an elbow injury.<br />
But one of spring training’s biggest stories is the return of Alex Rodriguez after the three-time AL MVP was suspended for last season for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract. Rodriguez’s last major league game was Sept. 25, 2013, against Tampa Bay, so no one really knows what to expect from the 39-year-old slugger.<br />
Reds first baseman Joey Votto (left knee), Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder (neck surgery), Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (right knee surgery) and Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (left hip surgery) are among the other noteworthy comebacks to watch this spring.</p>
<p>NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES<br />
Maddon gets to give the ball to Jon Lester every fifth day after the lefty signed a $155 million, six-year contract with the Cubs. Lester went 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA with Oakland and Boston last year.<br />
The Cubs also traded for catcher Miguel Montero and brought back right-hander Jason Hammel with a $20 million, two-year contract.<br />
The crosstown White Sox have a completely different look this spring. Jeff Samardzija joins the rotation after a trade with Oakland, and closer David Robertson should stabilize the bullpen after agreeing to a $46 million, four-year deal in free agency.<br />
The Red Sox, with Sandoval and slugger Hanley Ramirez ($88 million, four-year contract), and the Padres, with right-hander James Shields ($75 million, four-year deal) and a brand new outfield, are two more teams who bring big expectations to camp following an active offseason.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By JAY COHEN, AP Sports Writer</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/pitchers" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>pitchers</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/catchers" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>catchers</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/spring-training" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>spring training</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div></div></div>Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:31:45 +0000Geoffrey Stoute26839 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/pitchers-catchers-report-spring-training#commentsLester, Cubs agree to contracthttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/lester-cubs-agree-contract
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_81.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.banner-tribune.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/baseball-N1407P22012C_81.jpg" width="350" height="367" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">SAN DIEGO (AP) — </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Jon Lester agreed Tuesday night to a $155 million, six-year contract with the Cubs, the first big deal of the offseason involving a top-level starting pitcher and one Chicago hopes will help end more than a century of frustration at Wrigley Field’s Friendly Confines.<br />
Lester’s contract, agreed to on the second day of baseball’s winter meetings, contains an option for 2021 that, if it becomes guaranteed, would make the deal worth $170 million over seven seasons. The average annual value of $25.8 million is the second-highest for a pitcher behind Clayton Kershaw’s $30.7 million as part of a $215 million, seven-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began this year.<br />
“It’s not often you get to win the lottery, and we won the baseball lottery this year,” new Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “Now it’s up to us to put it into effect.”<br />
A three-time All-Star who turns 31 next month, Lester won two World Series titles with Boston. The left-hander joins a long-suffering team with a promising core of young players and a top-tier manager, Maddon, who left Tampa Bay and signed a $25 million, five-year contract with the Cubs.<br />
Now, Chicago has an ace to lead the rotation as it tries to end a run of five straight losing seasons and a championship drought that dates to 1908.<br />
Lester was dealt by the Red Sox to Oakland at the trade deadline in July and helped the A’s reach the playoffs for the third straight year before a 9-8, 12-inning loss to Kansas City in the AL wild-card game. He went 16-11 with a career-best 2.46 ERA and 220 strikeouts last season and is 116-67 with a 3.58 ERA in nine big league seasons.<br />
He also had been sought by the Red Sox, World Series champion San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers.<br />
Lester is headed to a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2008, but he knows Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer from their time together in Boston.<br />
Maddon had been used to small payrolls in Tampa Bay.<br />
“I’ve not been on this side since my days with the Angels, when I got an email in Italy that we had signed Vladimir Guerrero,” said Maddon, who was a coach in Anaheim before switching to Tampa Bay. “I think that definitely sends that message how Theo and the group feel about this particular group. But understand, we have a lot of young players that have to grow up as quickly as possible. But having Jon there adds to the flavor and the possibility.”<br />
The Cubs’ management is making over the team in a big way.<br />
Chicago has a pending $20 million, two-year deal with right-hander Jason Hammel, traded by the Cubs to Oakland last summer. Earlier Tuesday, the Cubs acquired All-Star catcher Miguel Montero from Arizona for minor league right-handers Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley — a deal that added $40 million in payroll over the next three years.<br />
Chicago’s rotation is likely to also include Jake Arrieta, Travis Wood, and Kyle Hendricks.<br />
The Cubs also have a pair of All-Stars in the batting order in first baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro and expect improved performances from young sluggers Javier Baez and Jorge Soler. Ahead is another wave of prospects that includes third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell.<br />
Maddon hopes an addition such as Lester helps change the mindset in the clubhouse when spring training starts in February.<br />
“It definitely makes it more believable to everybody else in that room,” he said. “I’ll stand up and make the same speech regardless, but when you have it backed up by that particular kind of presence, it adds to it.”</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/jon-lester" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Jon Lester</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/chicago-cubs" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>Chicago Cubs</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/contract" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>contract</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mlb" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel"><span>MLB</span></a></div></div></div>Wed, 10 Dec 2014 20:29:26 +0000Geoffrey Stoute25295 at http://www.banner-tribune.comhttp://www.banner-tribune.com/sports/lester-cubs-agree-contract#comments